Shock-diffuser.



l U TE SHOCK-DIFFUSER.

Application led April 18,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK F. LANDIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at lVaynesboro, Franklin county, and State of Pennsylvania,yhave invented and discovered certain new and useful Improvements inShock-Dii'users, of which the following is a specification.

My said Iinvention consists in certain improvements in the constructionand arrangement of parts of shock ditusers for use on spring vehicles,particularly automobiles, of that general type shown in my applicationNo. 702,228, filed June 7, 1912, whereby shocks incident to running overrough places, or obstructions, are diffused, or cushioned,

and the objects recited in said application are accomplished in a moreefficient and scientific manner, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof, andon which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1is a detail side elevation of a vehicle spring of a common type as itap' pears attached to the frame of the body and axle of a vehicle,illustrating one of my shock diffusers in elevation as it appears .inuse with this particular type of spring, Fig. 2 a central verticalsection through the shock diffuser structure illustrating the parts inthe position they occupy during spring expansion, Fig. 3 a similar viewillustrating the parts in the position they occupy during springcompresslon, and Fig. 4 a. detail section on the dotted line 4-f4 inFig. 2.

In said drawings thel portions marked A represent the casing, B afioating cylinder therein, C a piston in said cylinder, D a link orconnecting rod, and E the operating lever.

The casing A is of appropriate form and entirely closed, being providedwith a cap a and a screw-plug al by which access may be had to theinterior of said cylinder. Arms A1 and A2 are secured to one side ofsaid casing by which it may be supported on one side of the vehiclespring, through the mediv um of a clip 11 and an appropriate bolt 12.

The cylinder B is open lat the top and formed with an inwardly extendingannular horizontal rim or iangc at its lower end, leaving a largecentral opening. Said cylinder is mounted to slide vertically betweenguiding lugs 13 near the upper. end of casing A and guiding lugs 14 nearlts lower end. Lugs 13 are formed with off-sets or shouldersSpecification of Letters Patent.

PatentedwMan?, 1916..

1913. Serial No. 762,051.

15 adapted to limit the upward movement of said cylinder. The lower endof said cylinder normally rests upon an annular raised seat 16 formed onthe inner surface of the bottom of said casing A. Said annular seatl 1s.raised above the normal inner surface of said bottom and a restrictedby-pass 17 is cut through said seat on one or more sides thereof. Thedistance between shoulders 15 o f lugs 13 and seat 16 is sufficient topermit a l1m1ted tioating movement of cylinder B between said points. I

The piston C is tted snugly within cylinder B and has an annular centralopening 1n lits bottom around which is'formed a valve sea The link orconnecting rod D is connected to the piston C by across-pin 18 which eX-tends through its sides and engages at its outer ends in elongated holes19 in the sides of said piston, thus providing for a limited independentmovement between said piston C and said connecting rod D. The `lower endof said connecting rod D is globeshaped and hollow, beingv adapted tofit snugly upon the seat surrounding the aperture in the bottom of thepiston. The hollowY portion extends for a considerable distance upwardwithin said connectingrod, forming an air chamber d. The upper end ofsaid connecting rod is connected by a pivot 20 with` a short arm 21rigidly secured by a screw bolt 40 and interlocking faces on the innerends of hubs 22 of the parts of arm E. Said hubs are journaled insuitable bearings in the sides of casing A. Said operating arm E iscomposed of two parts connected at their outer ends by a bushin 41 andat their inner ends formed with hu s 22 which are journaled in suitableb eariiigs in the sides of the casing A. Packin rings 42 are interposedto secure non-lea ing joints around said limbs. The inner faces of saidhubs are formed with corrugations or serrations adapted to engage andinterlock with corresponding serrations in the opposite faces of the arm21, which is /interposed ybetween them. A screw bolt 40 operates tosecure the several parts rigidly together. As will be readily seen, byloosening said screw the arm 21 and arm E can be adjusted in theirangular relation to each other. By means of this adjustment the arm Ecan be adjusted to secure the proper movement of the piston in the oeration of the apparatus. The outer end o said pansion movement, to thatindicated by whole lines.v This movement has elevated' the connectingrod Duntil the pin 18 has contacted with the upper end of the elongatedholes in thepiston C, raising the lower end of said connecting rod fromits seat around the opening in the bottom of said piston, and also'rasingcylinder B upward against the shoulders l5 of the lugs 13 andfree from the seat 16 in the bottom of said casing. Two free passagesare thus provided through which oil, or other suitable fluid, containedin cylinder A, may flow into the part of cylinder B beneath the pistonC, one under the lower end of said cylinder and the other through theopening in the lower4 end of piston C, thus providing against anyresist-ance to thel compression of thespring except that provided Abythe spring itself and permitting it to compress as freely with thisdevice attached as without it.

Referring now. to Fig. 2; the parts are shown in position just after thespring has started to expand or recoil after compression, dthe arm Ehaving moved from the extreme position of the compression movement,indicated by dotted lines, to the position shown by-whole lines, whichmovement has served to carrythe connecting rod D .downward until theopening in the bottom of piston C is closed bythe valve (consisting ofthe lower end of said connecting rod) being seated in the bottom of thepiston. This also seats cylinder B upon the annular rldge,

- or seat, 16 in the bottom of casing A, forming an inclosed chamberwithin cylinder B beneath piston C filled with liuid and surmounted bythe air chamber d. The further movement upward of the arm E under theexpansion of the vehicle spring carries,the

piston C downward forcing the oil, or other fluid, in said chamberthrough the by-pass 17 into the space in casing A surrounding and abovecylinder B, thus com pellin the spring to expand slowly and easily andiffusing the shock incident t o a sudden 1mpact, or jolt, "as whenstrllnng obstacles or running. overnrough surfaces.

-It will;` be noted that the chamber d in the lower end oflinkorconnecting rod D is an 'air chambervand that normally it is lledwi free This provides an cushion invasor said liquid to pass upwardthrough the opening in said piston under pressure against the air insaid chamber d until said air is compressed to a degree equal to thepressure under which the liquid is flowing outward through the by-pass17. By this means the expansion is retarded under an elastic or yieldingcontrol, which relieves the vehicle and tires 'of undue strain and wearand edects a shock diusion which is easy and almost imperceptible,relieving the riding `over rough places and obstacles of much of thevunpleasant experiences ordinarily incident thereto.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what l claim as new anddesire to secure by' Letters Patent is:

1. A shock diiuser for vehicles comprising a casing, a cylinder having alimited independent movement within said casing and a bottom formed tonormally seat on the bottom `of said casingto close the communicationbetween the space surrounding said cylinder and that within it, aby-pass through said seat, a piston within said c linder, a piston-rodconnected with said piston to have a limited movement independentthereof,'and an operating lever connected to operate said piston at oneend and at the other end connected to one side of the vehicle spring,said casing being connected to the other side of said vehicle spring,substantially as set forth. 2. A` shock diuser for vehicle lspringscomprising a casing secured to one side of said spring andcontaining acylinder mounted to have a limited independent movement, the lower endof said cylinder being adapted to seat on the bottom of said casing, aby-pass for establishing communication between the space in the cylinderunder said piston and the space outside of said cylinder, a pistonmounted in said cylinder, an aperture surrounded by ascat in the lowerend of said piston, a piston-rod the lower end of which is adapted tofit n upon said valve seat in the lower end of .said piston andconnected withsaid piston to have a limited independent movement, anoperating lever connected at one end to operate. said piston-rod, andthe other end secured to the opposite side ofthe vehicle spring,substantially as set forth.

3. .A shock diuser for vehicle springs comprising a casing connected toone side of the spring, a Heating vcylinder in said cas- 4. A shockdiHuser for vehicle springs comprising a lcasing connected to the partsmovable relative to the parts carried by said springs, a floatingcylinder in said casing, a by-pass under the lower end of said floatingcylinder, a piston in said floating cylinder, an opening through saidpiston, means for controlling said opening wherebyfree communication isestablished into said cylinder beneath s'aid piston on its upwardmovement and Voutward communication. is

. shut off on its downward movement except through said by-pass, and anoperating lever connected to the said parts carried by said vehiclespring and operatively connected to said piston,substantially as setforth.

5. A shock diffuser comprising a casing containing a liquid, a floatingcylinder therein, a piston in said cylinder, means for operating saidpiston, means operable bythe movement of said piston for establishingfree communication intosaid cylinder at both ends of the space undersaid piston,

andmeans for cutting 0H and controlling the outflow from-the said space,substantially as set forth.

6. A shock diffuser compr1s1ng a casing containing -a fluid, a cylindersubmerged in the fluid in said casing and adapted to have, a limitedmovement in relation thereto, a

piston in saidcylinder, means for reciproeating said piston, meansoperable by the movement of said piston for opening free communicationto the interior of saidcylinder both through said 4piston and below saidcylinder on one movement and for-closing said communication on thereverse `movement, said means being provided with a restricted passagefor controlling the outflow from beneath said piston, substantially asset forth. l

7. A shock diffuser comprising a casing containing a fluid, and providedwith a free air space on top of said fluid, a cylinder submerged in thefluid in said casing and adapted to have a limited movement in relationthereto, a piston in said cylinder, means for reciprocating said piston,a valve operable by thel movement o f 'said piston for opening freecommunication to the interior of said cylinder both through said pistonand below said cylinder on one movement and for closingsaidcommunication on the reverse movement, the seat for said cylinder beingprovided with a restricted passage for controlling the outflow frombeneath said piston, substantially as set forth.

8. A shock diffuser comprising a fluid containing casingl connectedwith'a part of.

a vehicle, apiston -mounted in a cylinder within sald casing andoperatively connected with-al part of the vehicle on the opposed vsideof its spring, means operable by the movement of said piston forestablishing free communication to within said cylinder both under thecylinder and through the piston on one stroke and for cutting offcommunication on the reverse stroke, said means containing a restrictedpassage-for controlling the outflow from beneath said piston,substantially 'as set forth.

9. A shock diffuser comprising a fluid `containing casing mounted on oneside of the vehicle spring, a cylinder mounted in said casing to have alimited independent movement, .a seat for the lower end of said cylinderformed to normally cut ofl'l communication between the space within andthe space without said cylinder, a restricted passage being formedtherein, a piston mounted within said cylinder having an aperture in itsbottom surrounded by a valve'seat, a pistonrod .the lower end of whichis formed as a valve and adapted to fit said valve seat connected tosaid piston to have a limitedindependent movement in relation theretothe lower end of said piston being formed hollow to provide an aircushioning chamber, and an operatinglever connected at one end to theopposite side of the vehicle spring and at ,1ts opposite end operativelyconnected to saidl p1ston=rod, substantially asset forth.

lORA shock'difluser comprisinga fluid containing casing mounted on oneside of a vehicle spring, a cylinder within said casmg .mounted to havea limited movement in relation thereto, a .pistonwithin'said cylinderformedA with an aperture inits bottom surrounded by a valve seat, apiston-rod connected With said piston to have a limited movement inrelation thereto, and an operating lever connected with the other sideof Vthe vehicle spring at one end and at its.

pistonform'ed with an aperture in its bottom sur.

rounded by a valve seat, a hollow piston-rod connected with said pistonto have a limited movement in relation thereto,y and formed at its lowerend to provide an air cushioni'g chamber above said valve seat, and anoperating lever connected with the other side of the vehicle spring atone end and at its' other operatively connected to said piston-rod,substantially as set forth.

12. A shock di'user comprising a casing, a piston in said casing havingan opening, a valve mechanism for controlling said opening, an airchamber forming a part of said valve mechanism, and means forreciprocating said piston whereby during one movef ment `freecommunication is permitted through said piston and during the reversemovement said communication is closed and an air cushion providedagainst said movement, substantially as set forth.

13. A shock diffuser comprising a fluid containing casing, a cylindermounted therein having a limited Hoating movement adapted to open andclose the bottom ofsaid cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinderhaving a limited floating movement in relation thereto which operates toopen and close the top of said cylinder, andlmeans for operating saidparts, substantially as set forth. f

14. A shock diffuser comprising a liquid containing-casing, a cylindertherein mounted to have a floating movement relative thereto adapted toopen the bottom of said cylinder when moved in one direction and toclose it when moved in the reverse direction, a piston in said cylinder'having an opening therein, and means operable by the movement of saidpiston for controllingsa'id opening, substantially as set forth. l

15. A shock di'user comprising a fluid containing casing, areciprocating cylinder therein, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder,an opening through said piston, means for controlling said openingcontaining an air chamber, and means for operating said several parts,substantially as set forth.

16. A shoclrdiduser comprising a Huid containing casinga reciprocatingpiston in said casing, means for providing for the free now of the duidfrom one side of said piston to the other during the springcompressions, means for controlling the flow of the Huid from one sideof said piston to the other during` the spring expansiom? and an aircushioning chamber arranged to coperate therewith, substantially as setforth.

17,. dA shock diduser comprising a duid containing casing, areciprocating piston in said casing, means for providing for the freedow or" the fluid from one side of said piston to the other while thespring is taking compressions, tension means for controlling the dow ofthe duid from one side of said piston to'the other during the release ofsaid ten sion, and an air cushioning chamber arranged to cooperatetherewith, substantially as set forth.

18. A shock diuser comprising a fluidl matter within said cylinder, anopening in said piston, a piston-rod embodying a valve for con` trollingsaid opening and connected to said piston to have a limited movement inrelation' theret0,land means' for operating said piston-rod,substantially as set forth.

19. A shock diduser comprising a fluid containing casing, a cylindertherein mounted 'to have a limited movement in relation thereto to openand close communication through the bottom of said cylinder, a pistonwithin said cylinder, an'opening in said piston, a piston-rod embodyinga valve for controlling said opening and also containing an aircushioning chamber and connected to said piston to have a limitedmovement in relation thereto, and lmeans for o erating said piston-rod,substantially as set Orth.

20. A shock diffuser comprising a casing having a fluid containingchamber, a cylinder provided with valves one at its top and one at itsbottom to freely reeeive the duid at both ends during spring compressiommeans for closing said valves at both ends of said cylinder duringspring expansion, a restricted opening being provided between the faceand the seat ofone of said valves for permitting the gradual outflow ofthe fluid during spring expansion, andoperating,connections,`substantially as set forth.

2l. A shock diduser comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, valves atthe top and bottom of said cylinder, means for simultaneously openingsaid valves during spring compression, means for closingl said valves toa restricted passage during Aspringexpansion, and operating connections,substantially as set forth.

22. An apparatus of the character described comprising a cylinder, areciprocating piston therein, a restricted passage being provided fromthe chamber beneath said piston, a connection which actuates saidpiston, the lower end of said connection forming a spherical valve whichcloses a central opening in said piston while said piston 'is forcing aliquid through said restricted passage, and means for' opening andclosing said valve, substantially as set forth.

ln witness whereoffl have hereunto set my hand and seal at Waynesborothis 24th day of March, A. D. nineteen hundred and thirteen.

FRANK F. LANDlS. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

M. H. LANDIS, J MARTIN.

